Kaplan Anastomosis of the Ulnar Nerve: a Case Report

Overview

Journal J Med Case Rep

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2008 Apr 17

PMID 18412973

Citations 6

Authors

Georgios Paraskevas

Christos Ch Gekas

Alexandros Tzaveas

Ioannis Spyridakis

Alexandra Stoltidou

Parmenion Ph Tsitsopoulos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The sensory innervation of the hand is usually unvarying and anomalies in this area are uncommon.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a rare ulnar nerve branch called a Kaplan anastomosis, which anastomosed the dorsal cutaneous branch with the ulnar nerve prior to its bifurcation into the superficial and deep ramus.

Conclusion: Many authors have reported unusual ulnar nerve branches and knowledge of these anatomical variations is important for the interpretation of pain and sensory loss in the area sustained during injuries or surgical procedures. Our finding is the fourth case of a Kaplan anastomosis to be described in the literature.

Citing Articles

Unusual Anastomosis between Branches of the Ulnar Nerve (Kaplan Type Anastomotic Variant) - Case Report.

Oliveira K, Benevenuto G, de Almeida A, de Oliveira D, Bueno L, Teixeira M Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo). 2024; 59(Suppl 1):e65-e67.

PMID: 39027164 PMC: 11254421. DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1744295.

Unexplored parameters of ulnar nerve in the palm and its clinical implications; A cadaveric study.

Punja R, Kini G, Hosapatna M Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022; 74:103259.

PMID: 35145657 PMC: 8818893. DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103259.

Anomalous muscles and nerves in the hand of a 94-year-old cadaver-A case report.

Nation H, Jeong S, Jeong S, Occhialini A Int J Surg Case Rep. 2019; 65:119-123.

PMID: 31704662 PMC: 6920165. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2019.10.062.

A comprehensive review of motor innervation of the hand: variations and clinical significance.

Wynter S, Dissabandara L Surg Radiol Anat. 2017; 40(3):259-269.

PMID: 28725918 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-017-1898-8.

Unusual Communications between the Cutaneous Branches of Ulnar Nerve in the Palm.

Sirasanagandla S, Padavinangady A, Nayak S, Jetti R J Clin Diagn Res. 2015; 9(3):AD01-2.

PMID: 25954612 PMC: 4413060. DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/11074.5642.

References

Wulle C . [Kaplan's anastomosis in the little finger]. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir. 1988; 20(5):285-7. View

Ferrari G, Gilbert A . The superficial anastomosis on the palm of the hand between the ulnar and median nerves. J Hand Surg Br. 1991; 16(5):511-4. DOI: 10.1016/0266-7681(91)90105-w. View

Bonnel F, Vila R . Anatomical study of the ulnar nerve in the hand. J Hand Surg Br. 1985; 10(2):165-8. DOI: 10.1016/0266-7681(85)90007-5. View

Don Griot J, Zuidam J, van Kooten E, Prose L, Hage J . Anatomic study of the ramus communicans between the ulnar and median nerves. J Hand Surg Am. 2000; 25(5):948-54. DOI: 10.1053/jhsu.2000.16352. View

Saeed W, Davies D . Sensory innervation of the little finger by an anomalous branch of the median nerve associated with recurrent, atypical carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Br. 1995; 20(1):42-3. DOI: 10.1016/s0266-7681(05)80014-2. View